After they returned home, Mr. Yoshino and Eichi prepared an especially rich dinner.
Beedrill's meal was also quite special.
While they ate, his father said, "Eichi, I'm proud of the results you achieved."
"You've always had your own ideas since you were little, and you've worked hard in your studies."
"I'm just an ordinary man, I don't have the means to give you a better environment, but I'll always quietly support you, and help you however I can."
Eichi replied, "Thank you, Father."
Then his father added, "You must take good care of yourself from now on. I heard about that incident, so don't ever do something like that again."
Eichi knew he meant the incident with the Rattata Poaching Group.
Hearing that, he felt moved.
Since his reincarnation, his father had never spoken this much to him before.
His father was in high spirits that night and began drinking while chatting with Eichi.
By the end, he was completely drunk, so Eichi helped carry him to bed.
As his father lay down, he muttered drowsily with his eyes half-closed, "Eichi, if your mother could see you now, she would be so happy."
Eichi stayed silent after hearing that.
It seemed his father had suffered far too much over the years.
Eichi decided that once he earned enough money, he would have his father quit his job.
They could plant some Berry trees behind their house, and his father could live a peaceful life as a fruit farmer.
After cleaning up the table, Eichi went back to his room to sleep.
Outside, the dark sky shimmered with countless stars, making the night especially beautiful.
Eichi had trouble falling asleep.
The entrance exam was over, and in just a dozen days, the graduation exam would come.
After that, there would be a two-month break.
He should plan well what to do during the summer vacation.
***
Time flew by quickly, and the graduation exam arrived.
Today was the final day.
When it was over, everyone's faces lit up with smiles.
The path was lined with fresh grass, and the air was clean.
The sun shone brightly across the green fields.
Eichi walked home with Aki.
Aki asked, "Eichi, what are you planning to do this summer?"
"I'll probably stay home and study breeding knowledge," Eichi said.
Aki gasped, "What? It's vacation! How can you still think about studying? Don't you get bored?"
Eichi answered, "Not really. You could say it's a hobby, so it doesn't feel boring."
Then he asked, "What about you, Aki? What will you do this summer?"
Aki's face lit up with excitement.
"Of course I'll play as much as I want! We finally graduated, so I'm going to spend some time traveling with my Mankey!"
Eichi: …
***
In the past few days, Eichi had met with the group of Bug Catchers: Allan, Kyle, and Tyler.
The three of them would be attending a vocational academy in Viridian City after summer break.
The other Bug Catchers were still the same, and even now, new Bug Catchers had joined their group.
Eichi's departure hadn't affected them at all.
The cycle continued.
It seemed that Bug Catchers would never truly disappear.
***
The next day marked the first day of summer vacation.
Eichi made a point to visit Teacher Arno, meeting him once again in his office.
Sitting across from him, Eichi listened as the teacher asked, "So, what are your plans for the next two months?"
Eichi replied seriously, "I plan to stay home and study breeding knowledge for one month, then travel around for another month."
Teacher Arno nodded. "Since you already have a plan, I won't interfere.
Coincidentally, I also have something that will keep me away for a while."
Eichi was curious about what Teacher Arno needed to do, but since the teacher didn't say, he didn't ask.
Before leaving, he exchanged contact information with Teacher Arno and then headed out.
Leaving the office, Eichi made his way into Viridian City.
This time, he went again to the Johtho Department Store.
He wanted to buy Beedrill a training item.
By now, simply training Beedrill's speed through normal exercises wasn't very effective.
He needed an external aid, and Eichi remembered hearing about weight training back in his previous life.
It seemed like a good idea, so he had asked Teacher Arno about it.
Teacher Arno confirmed that there were indeed special weight devices made for Pokémon training.
However, they had to be used carefully; otherwise, they could cause serious physical harm to a Pokémon.
Eichi kept that in mind as he rode the elevator to the fifth floor.
He looked around carefully, but there were too many different items, and he couldn't find what he needed.
So he approached a female clerk.
With a polite smile, she asked, "How may I help you?"
Eichi said, "I'd like to buy a weight device."
"Of course. Please, come with me," she replied.
Eichi followed her to a display shelf.
She took down a small, ring-shaped machine.
It was compact, with a small digital screen on top.
"This," she said with a smile, "is our store's weight trainer, designed specifically for Pokémon training."
"This particular model is made for small Pokémon.
May I ask what species you'd like it for, so I can select the right model?"
Eichi said, "My Pokémon is a Beedrill."
The clerk nodded. "For a Beedrill, this one will do just fine.
But we also offer custom-made models for specific Pokémon, which work even better.
Would you prefer a custom one?"
Eichi nodded and released Beedrill from its Poké Ball.
"Then please make a custom one for my Beedrill."
"Certainly. Please follow me, and we'll measure its data first," the clerk said.
After the measurements, she told him, "Your weight device should be ready the day after tomorrow. Please come back then to pick it up."
Eichi nodded and also ordered a pair of special stinger guards for Beedrill.
After that, he went home.
***
The next day, while others were out enjoying their vacation, Eichi didn't go anywhere.
He took Beedrill out for training instead.
They arrived early in the small grove, where he released Beedrill.
Training began as usual, starting with twenty laps of flight around the area as a warm-up, like jogging two laps around a 400-meter track.
Then came move practice.
Beedrill's current moves were: Fury Attack, Twineedle, Rage, Pursuit, Agility, Pin Missile, Focus Energy, Venoshock, and Toxic Spikes.
Beedrill had already reached the Skilled level with all of these moves, though not yet Mastery.
Eichi's goal for this summer was to have Beedrill master them all.
In a few more days, he planned to buy some TMs as well.
But, looking at his wallet, it seemed he didn't have enough money yet.
Another new day began.